Extension table



Sept. 20, 1949; c. E. MILLSPAQGH 2,f182,358

E'xTEus ION TABLE Filed May 22, 1947 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3nventor Ce dric E. Miilspaugh Gttomeg c. E. MILLSPAUGH Sept. 20, 1949.

EXTENSION TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed May 22, 1947 Zhwentor Cedric E. Millspaugh wM/%4 w (Ittotneg Patented Sept. 20, 1949 EXTENSION TABLE Cedric E. Millspaugh, Westlake, Ohio, assignor to Union-National, Inc., Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 22, 1947, Serial No. 749,643

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in extension tables and more particularly to the supporting structure therefor.

As is well known, extension tables were developed primarily for the purpose of making available, as required, tables having greater top area than those of the fixed or drop-leaf top. In the manufacture of an extension table it is desirable to so conceal the extension structure that, when the end sections are in retracted position, the table will have the appearance of a conventional fixed-top table, with or without drop leaves. Generally speaking, the supporting structure of extension tables consists of extendable slides that connect the separable leg and top'sections. These slides, when extended, provide ledges on which to locate leaves intermediate the separated sections. To sustain any weight that might be placed on the intermediate leaves of an extended table, or prevent the central portion thereof from sagging or bowing, it has been the practice to provide comparatively large slide elements, or support a pair of the most central slide elements on an intermediate leg section. The use of slides as the sole support of the central portion of an extended table is generally found to be unsatisfactory, if not at first, in subsequent use. The reason for this is that the central portion of the table is required to sustain substantially as much weight as the leg-supported end sections, and with only slides as a support, the central portion tends to bow or sag. Thus, a table of this construction often presents a stretched, unattractive appearance. Provision of a central pair of legs undoubtedly came into use for the purpose of overcoming the objections mentioned above. However, the intermediate leg unit has a comparatively small area for attachment to an intermediate pair of slide elements and is, therefore, usually weak and unable to properly support the central portion of an extended table. Additionally, the central leg unit invariably becomes located nearer one table end than the other when the table is in extended position, thus giving a very unbalanced appearance to the entire structure.

The present invention has been developed for the purpose of providing an extension table in which such structure is employed as to provide adequate support for the central portion of an extended table through the use of parts that will not, whether the table is in extended or retracted position, detract from the design appearance and this, therefore, constitutes one of the more important objects.

It is another object of the invention to provide supporting structure for the central portion of an extension table that, when the table is in retracted position, is concealed and the table as a whole, with the possible exception of the dividing line of the fixed top sections, gives the appearance of a table unequipped with extension structure.

Another important object of the invention lies in the provision of intermediate leg supports that are rigid with the end leg supports.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an intermediate two-leg support, one leg being secured to one end section and the other leg to the other end section; the pair of legs, when the table is retracted, giving the appearance, with the other supporting structure, of a rigid, non-extendable, six-legged table.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table in which one form of the invention is embodied, a central portion of the fixed top panels being broken away to disclose the location of certain structural details;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table in retracted position, a central portion of the fixed top panels being broken away to disclose the separable leg structure;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the table in partially extended position, parts of the fixed panels being broken away to show the position of the parts of the separable leg unit when the table is extended; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View, with parts broken away and in section, showing details of the separable central leg unit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral it! is employed to generally designate a table in which one form of the invention is embodied. The table, in the present disclosure, is one of the drop-leaf extension type and includes two end sections H and I2. A leaf I3 is hinged to one edge of top panel H of section I l, and a leaf I6 is hinged to one edge of top panel 11 of section l2. Neither the hinge structure for these leaves, nor the means by which they are sustained in raised position, is shown since they constitute no part of the invention. Each of the sections l I and [2 includes a pair of legs l8 which extend generally transversely of the table from an upright, ornamental support l9. On the upper end of the support 19 is secured one-half 2| of a split bridge. Each part 2| of the bridge is are mounted on and secured to the fixed slidev elements 26,and 21 in conventional manner, D,e

pending from the under face of each top panel and 'oined, to an edge of the-split. bridge,,-is.=the

usua apron 23. Of course;v this. az'pron is'split; as shown, in order that the identical parts may be separated as the sections I]; and liaise, sepa rated when the table is extended" into a position such as suggested in Fig. 3.

An intermediate pair of legs 29, together with an upstanding support-,3! is also provided. flow; even, thisintermediate structuresissplitrinto identical halves and, thus. each leg 29 will mount one-half 32: ofthe support 31. Theupper end3-3 of. each: of. the,- parts: 321s. joined toa: corresponding portion; of. the split bridge, substantially, as shown. Since the portions 32 of the supportare intended toso; interfit as togiv'e: the: appearance of, one of; the end; supports: l9 whent-he; tame is in retracted position, the meeting lines; thereof will be stepped: at 34. It will;be. apparent: that when-,thersupport parts: 31 are brought; together (Fig.2); they become-aligned: transversely of the table and appear as azsolid' member. Adjacent the verticalparting: line, ornamental meansyin theformof rods Mare-provided for: securing the legs 29: to corresponding portions: of. the legs '19 of eachof the end? supportingsection's.

'Itwill be noted that each. half of the inter mediate support- 31 ispermanen'tlyioined to one of the end sections through the split bridge 21 and one rod 36. Thus, each of the intermediate l'gis 2-9-ahd'the corresponding portion 32 is rig-id -'with its corresponding end section; and provides table support wherein: the and suppohting sctions inclt lde-a strong-and rigid threelegged structure. Of course, since the thirdflg er 'a 'ch end sectiea is located near the central por-ti'onb'fthetablewhen-extended andthese eg's table is provided with adequate support fer-e1 1 someiusa'ge. p ,7 Referring particularly to EigqZ; it will be noted tha t when the table is in retr'actedposition, all parts ir'zterfit; The two top panels lfi and l"! "abut,

supporting structure, it would not be apparent that the intermediate pair of legs 29 served other than as a fixed mid-table support. However, when the table is extended, as shown inFig. 3, each end section includes three rigidly joined supporting legs. This structure obviously not only and the stepped portions of the'split"bridge1are fal so in abutment, Similarly, the vertically-split supports 32 are ina alignment transversely of the table 'andgive the appearance ofa solid termediate support. In fact,.unless the user-ti; a table-bf this construction closely "examined the increases the strength of the supporting end sections', but 'als'o providesadequate support intermediatethe and. legs for the central portion of the table.

'Although applicant has shown and described only; one form of the invention, it will be apparent that the'particular arrangement of'interfitting the separable; parts ofithtable supporting structure,

' sthsp" mg of the single leg with respect to the-corresponding end legs, may be modified as required. for tables of proportions different from those shown and described, without departing mm the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claiin.

. Having.- thus set forth my invention-, v what I claim; as newand: for which! I. desire: protection by Letters Patent is:

lnlan extensiontab-lehavingwalpair:of: separable end". sectiong. extendableslide.- jnined toLa nd facilitating. adjustment of. said; sections relatively extendedor retractedpositiomia sup.- porting' structure for each section; comprising an upright; a, pair of" legsjoinedi toeeachiuprighwan intermediate upright, said intermediate upright being formed fronr' dupli'ca teapants including interfittableends, a'legz j'oin'e'di to eachrpart; the leg of. one part. extending in a;direction:opposite to thatof the leg. pf: the other-partisan! parts; when said sections; are) in-- retractedposition, cooperating to: provide an in erni'ediate upright having the appearanceand proportions of the upright' 'for eachzofi's'aid secti'ons.

GES (")ITED: The, following references are 'ofre'cor'di in-tlie file, of this patent: 1

1,035,323; corps Jan.27;,1=911= 1;,3 20; 215' Field 0.611.128; 19,139

1,584,354 tuner "May 11, 1926 1188,1178 arsons Jan.. 13,1931

1,35%,129 Folsom. Apr. 12', 1932 2152303 Mar-inc. Apnd, 1939.

FoRmGuPA'rENms. V I, Number, Country Date I Great Britain Nev. 1 1e,, 1919: 

